Bos grunniens

Description:

The wild yak (Bos grunniens or B. mutus) is a large herbivore ungulate species inhabiting remote areas of high-elevation alpine tundra, grasslands and cold desert of the Tibetan plateau. The native populations of wild yak in Bhutan and Nepal are believed to be extinct and their range is confined to China and India. Their dark-brown, dense, wooly coats allow them to adjust to harsh weather conditions as the winter temperatures goes down to -40° C in this territory. The yaks are usually found in herds of > 100 individuals although smaller groups of 10 – 20 individuals are also common. The global population of the wild yaks is estimated at about 15,000 individuals. The yaks mostly move up and down the slopes in search for forage travelling distances of up to 50 km. Even though they mostly do not undertake extensive migration, the seasonal movements into the Ladakh region of Kashmir from Tibet do occur.

The major threats to wild yaks include habitat loss, genetic hybridization with domestic yaks and poaching. Wild yaks have limited tolerance to disturbance from people and their livestock, as the villages and domestic herds spread around the plateau, yaks are forced to leave the area to more unfavorable habitats. Increased presence of livestock also leads to interbreeding between wild and domestic yaks which threatens genetic purity. The situation with poaching seems to have stabilized with the confiscation of weapons in most of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. However, it still persists in some areas. The main population of wild yaks is found in the Chang Tang nature reserve in northern Tibet in China. Other protected areas, such as the Arjin Shan, Kekexili, Sanjiangyuan, and Yanchiwan nature reserves also cover part of the species’ range.

Photo credit: Xi Zhinong, naturepl.com

Conservation

The wild yak is listed under the CMS Appendix I and designated for concerted conservation actions by Resolution 11.13 of the COP11, calling for all the Range States to implement the provisions of the Convention to benefit the conservation of the selected species. It is also covered under the Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI), a platform aiming to safeguard populations of 14 migratory species. The CAMI Programme of Work suggests updating the species information, assessing threats from infrastructure, and developing of the multi-species management plan as priorities for the Tibetan Plateau. The wild yak is assessed as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List and is also included in CITES Appendix I, prohibiting commercial use of the species. Both in India and China, the wild yak receives strict protection under national legislation.